Smith Is Top Rusher In Maine Collegiate History

As Husson University senior John Smith enters his final regular season game Saturday afternoon, he is already in the record books as the top rusher in Maine collegiate history.

The NCAA lists Smith with 6,300 career rushing yards. (Another 283 yards gained in last year's game vs Dean College are not included). He is now in 5th place nationally in career yards among Division III schools.

In terms of Maine schools, Maine Maritime Academy's Steve Tardif held the record with 6,093 yards. That number placed him 7th on the national D-III list.

UMaine's top career rusher is Marcus Williams who ran for 3,940 yards in the early 2000s.

No Colby, Bowdoin or Bates rusher has rushed for more than 2,800 career yards.

Now Smith is closing in on the all-time New England rushing record. He has passed the great UNH runner, Jerry Azumah (6,193) and the mark he shoots for now is Kavin Gaillard from Division II American International College in Massachusetts. Gaillard rushed for 6,523 yards in the late 1990s.

Smith needs 224 yards to pass Gaillard. He will have at least two games left in his career - vs Mt Ida Saturday and at least one NCAA playoff game.

NOTE: Sports Radio 92.9 The Ticket and 929theticket.com have live coverage of the Husson vs Mount Ida College ECFC finale Saturday at noon. The Eagles have already earned the conference automatic qualifier for the NCAA playoffs and will find out Sunday who and where they will play in the first round of the NCAAs.